Iran War
Iran struck UAE oil facilities in Fujairah with drones and missiles, causing fires, three injuries to Indian nationals, and damage to an ADNOC tanker, according to reports. US Central Command reported destroying seven Iranian fast boats threatening commercial shipping using Sea Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters, while denying Iranian claims of hitting a US Navy vessel. US destroyers USS Truxtun and USS Mason repelled small boat, missile, and drone attacks during a transit into the Persian Gulf under Project Freedom, intercepting all threats. Trump called the conflict a “mini-war” and announced US efforts to guide stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran reportedly redefined its control zone to extend to the UAE coasts, leading ships to cluster off Dubai. The UAE condemned the attacks as violations of international law and threatened retaliation. Iranian state media denied responsibility for the UAE attacks.
Meanwhile, President Trump added Nick Stewart, director of lobbying at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, to Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s Iran negotiating team amid stalled peace talks and a US blockade on Iranian ports. Stewart previously worked in the State Department under Brian Hook during the first Trump administration’s sanctions after the US withdrawal from the JCPOA. Iran submitted a new 30-day proposal to end the war, which Trump described as unlikely to be acceptable without further penalties for past actions. The White House described Stewart as a sharp, seasoned policy expert, but anti-war advocates worry he will bring a hawkish and aggressive element to the team.
Other Geopolitics
Russia declared a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine for May 8-9 to mark Victory Day, threatening massive missile strikes on Kyiv if violated. Ukraine announced its own ceasefire from May 5-6 in response. That said, Russia issued a strong warning after rumors of Ukrainian plans to disrupt Russian celebrations. “If the Kyiv regime attempts to implement its criminal plans to disrupt the celebration of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian Armed Forces will launch a retaliatory, massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv.”
In the meantime, a Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile, carrying a 1,150 kg warhead, struck JSC VNIIR-Progress in Cheboksary, 1,000 km from frontlines, which produces military electronics for drones, missiles, and navigation systems. Production of the domestically made missiles, with a 3,000 km range, is increasing. Russian reports claimed the strike caused two deaths and 34 injuries, including civilians.
Additionally, a Ukrainian drone struck a 54-story luxury tower in southwest Moscow, six kilometers from the Kremlin, causing limited damage but no casualties. The attack was the third consecutive night of Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow ahead of Russia’s scaled-back May 9 Victory Day parade. Russian officials stated that air defenses intercepted the drone, with debris causing the damage.
Turning to Israel, strikes killed 17 people in southern Lebanon on Monday, bringing the toll to 110 deaths since Thursday despite a ceasefire extended to mid-May. Totals since March 2: 2,659 killed, 8,183 injured, and over one million displaced. Reports indicate Israel used tactics similar to those in Gaza, including razing border villages, schools, hospitals, mosques, and a historic monastery in Yaroun. Israel stated the strikes targeted Hezbollah infrastructure following ceasefire violations.
US Politics
A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll showed President Trump’s disapproval rating at 62%, with 76% disapproving of his handling of cost-of-living issues and 66% on Iran. Approval among Republicans declined, while independents showed 25% approval. 67% of Americans said the country is heading in the wrong direction, including 78% of independents. In hypotheticals, House control favored Democrats 49-44%. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary Marco Rubio had low approval ratings. Some commentators dismissed the poll as biased, citing aggregates with higher Trump approval.
In other news, the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets scheduled a May 13 hearing on the CIA’s MKUltra program, which ran from 1953 to 1964 and involved 144 subprojects testing drugs, hypnosis, and psychological techniques on unwitting subjects, including US citizens. Most records were destroyed in 1973. The hearing follows newly surfaced documents and claims related to the 1953 death of scientist Frank Olson after covert LSD dosing. Prisoner James “Whitey” Bulger described hallucinations and paranoia from the 1957 experiments. The National Security Archive published over 1,200 pages of documents in 2025.
Energy
Iran targeted the UAE’s Fujairah petroleum complex and ADNOC pipeline, a 406 km Hormuz bypass built in 2012 for 1.5 million barrels daily exports. Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, another bypass, lost 700,000 barrels daily after an April 8 strike. Both routes now direct traffic through Hormuz. Iran denied intentionally targeting UAE facilities, and social media posts have speculated that the IRGC conducted these strikes independently.
Meanwhile, Ukraine struck Russia’s Primorsk Baltic oil port with drones, causing a fire, as well as a missile carrier, patrol boat, and shadow fleet tankers near Novorossiysk used to evade sanctions. Such attacks have reportedly reduced Russian refining to a 17-year low of 4.7 million barrels per day and cut oil revenue by $7 billion this year. Russian authorities reported the Primorsk fire was quickly extinguished with no oil spill.
Given all the risk within the oil markets, Iraq offered discounts up to $33.40 per barrel for Basrah Medium crude loaded in May via Hormuz, waiving force majeure. Only two vessels were loaded at Basrah in April, compared to the usual 80 monthly. That said, Iraq has maintained some exports via the Turkey pipeline.
In the U.S., California’s last Middle East oil tanker, the Hong Kong-flagged New Corolla, carrying two million barrels from Iraq, docked at Long Beach. Gas prices reached $6.10-$8 per gallon amid lost refining capacity and a lack of pipelines. State officials expressed confidence in supplies for six weeks, although critics worry that the longer-term supply does not look promising.
Health
The CDC’s ACIP recommended shared decision-making for future COVID-19 boosters, particularly for older adults and those with conditions, involving discussions of risks and benefits with doctors. Former CDC director Tom Frieden and colleagues described this as an abdication, citing observational data such as a 2025 Veterans study showing reduced hospitalizations. Critics pointed to flaws in observational studies and compared it to standard practices like prostate screening. Booster uptake among healthcare workers fell below 10%. The CDC revised its autism guidance, stating studies have not ruled out links to early infancy.
Trump’s Surgeon General nominee, Dr. Nicole Saphier, has come under fire from MAHA. Critics point out that she had urged COVID shots, especially for over-55s with comorbidities, claiming 100% efficacy against severe illness. VAERS reports through March 2026 list 1.67 million adverse events, 39,077 deaths, and 222,549 hospitalizations for COVID vaccines, exceeding historical totals. A Harvard analysis estimated VAERS captures under 1% of events. Supporters highlighted her cancer expertise and opposition to child vaccine mandates.
Artificial Intelligence
Governments have classified mega AI data centers as military operations, limiting community veto power. Texas’s Project Matador plans 18 million square feet on 6,000 acres, consuming up to 96 billion kWh yearly, equivalent to 55-65% of residential use. Eighty-seven are operational, 135 are under construction, and over 600 are planned. Utah’s Stratos Project on 40,000 acres, backed by Kevin O’Leary and fast-tracked by the Military Installation Development Authority, excludes public input. Meta’s Louisiana center has generated reports of noise, lights, rising rents, and an influx of RVs. Data centers consume millions of gallons of water daily and produce noise, light pollution, and EMF. A 2026 car incident reportedly involved facial recognition disabling acceleration until eyes were detected. Proponents cited economic benefits, including thousands of jobs and tax revenue.
Sources
Trump Bolsters Iran Team with Hawk from Notoriously Aggressive Think Tank
“Hiring a FDD staffer onto your team strongly suggests that reaching a diplomatic deal is not Trump’s objective,”
Congress Revives MKUltra Probe: CIA Mind-Control Legacy Faces New Scrutiny
Congress Sets MKUltra Hearing As CIA Mind-Control Experiments Face Renewed Scrutiny
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Moscow Luxury Tower, Mere Miles from Kremlin
A Ukrainian one-way attack drone struck a high-rise apartment building in Moscow in the early hours of Monday, causing no reported casualties and only limited damage.
Trump’s Disapproval Hits Record High on Iran War, Soaring Costs
Trump Disapproval Rate Hits Career-High – War And Rising Costs Take Toll
Trump Calls It a ‘Mini-War’: Iran Strikes UAE Oil Sites as Strait Tensions Flare
“We’re in, I call it a mini-war.”
Israel Deploys “Gaza Model” in Lebanon, Killing Dozens Despite Ceasefire
The Jewish State is applying the “Gaza model” in Lebanon.
Ukraine Hits Russia’s Primorsk Port and Shadow Fleet Tankers in Oil Infrastructure Blitz
Ukraine launched a fresh wave of attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure on Sunday, hitting ports on the Baltic and “shadow fleet” tankers alleged to be carrying Russian crude illegally.
ACIP Under Fire for Championing Shared Decision-Making on Covid Boosters
the moment the subject is “vaccination,” even the most basic principles of transparency and informed consent are treated as optional — or worse, as threats.
US Strikes Iranian Fast Boats as Iran Attacks UAE Oil Facility
US strikes Iranian fast boats as Iran attacks UAE oil facility
Governments Classify Mega AI Data Centers as Military Operations, Stripping Communities of Veto Power
Governments are now classifying massive AI data centers as “military operations,” quietly stripping communities of any power to stop them.
Trump’s Surgeon General Pick Urged COVID Shots Despite Record VAERS Death and Injury Reports
Federal safety surveillance data show that COVID injections have become one of the most death-reported and injury-reported pharmaceutical products in modern U.S. history.
Fire Breaks Out at UAE’s Fujairah Petroleum Complex After Iranian Drone Attack
UAE’s Fujairah says fire breaks out at petroleum complex after Iranian drone attack
Iran’s Pipeline Playbook: Bypassing the Bypasses
you don’t need to close the strait if you’ve already destroyed every route that avoids it
California’s Last Middle East Oil Tanker Docks as Supplies Vanish
The last tanker carrying Middle East oil to California just docked at Long Beach, and there are no more on the way.
Russia and Ukraine Declare Separate Ceasefires Ahead of Victory Day
Russia and Ukraine declare separate ceasefires ahead of WWII anniversary
US Destroyers Repel Iranian Barrage in Daring Hormuz Transit
USS Truxtun and USS Mason transited Hormuz into the Persian Gulf under sustained Iranian attack
Ships Cluster Off Dubai as Iran Expands Hormuz Control
Hundreds of vessels were seen clustering near Dubai as more ships moved away from the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran’s efforts to widen its area of control.
Source (Paywalled)
Ukraine’s FP-5 Flamingo Missile Delivers First Strike on Russian Drone Electronics Plant
Ukraine’s massive FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile has struck Russia’s JSC VNIIR-Progress military electronics plant in Cheboksary for the first time.
Iraq Dangles $33/Barrel Oil Discounts for Risky Hormuz Run
Iraq is offering discounts for crude loaded this month, with tankers having to transit the Strait of Hormuz to collect the barrels.
Source (Paywalled)
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Alex Marquardt’s Substack, Al Jazeera Breaking News, DC Crusader, Mario Nawfal, NOELREPORTS, Kyiv Independent, @agents_media, @bbcrussian, IDF spokesman, General Quacker, staunovo, NewsForce, Iranian state TV, New York Post, Bloomberg, War Monitor, @TonySeruga, and Heidi Hatch KUTV.
by mike-from-jersey 
